General Scott eBook

Two or three miles from Puebla a commission met General
Worth to treat for terms. A halt of a few hours
was made, when the march was resumed, and the American
forces without opposition marched into the Grand Plaza
between the palace of the Governor and the cathedral.

A Mexican historian thus describes the first appearance
and occupation of Puebla by the American troops:
“The singular appearance of some of the soldiers,
their trains, their artillery, their large horses,
all attracted the curiosity of the multitude, and
at the corners and squares an immense crowd surrounded
the new conquerors. The latter—­extremely
fatigued, confiding in the mutual guarantees stipulated
by the Ayuntamientimo and General Worth, or perhaps
despising a people who easily permitted the occupation
of their territory—­stacked arms in the
plaza while waiting for quarters, while some wandered
into neighboring streets to drink pulque and embrace
the leperos, with whom they seemed old acquaintances.
[The leperos were the vagabonds of the city and country.]
There is no doubt that more than ten thousand persons
occupied the plazas and corners. One cry, one
effort, the spirit of one determined man would have
sufficed; and if once this multitude had pressed in
on the enemy, they would have inevitably perished.
Nothing was done. General Worth took quarters
in the Governor’s palace, east of the Grand
Plaza, and upon its flagstaff hoisted the Stars and
Stripes.”

General Worth took possession of Puebla on May 15th,
and, acting under orders of General Scott, he issued
orders which gave assurance to the inhabitants that
they would not be disturbed either in person or property,
and that they could continue without molestation their
ordinary business. The markets were kept open,
and no officer or soldier was permitted to take anything
without paying the regular market price.

The civil administration of the city was not interfered
with. The police of the city was continued under
the regulations of the city government. The churches,
of which there were a large number, were opened, and
continued their usual functions, and the attendance
was largely augmented by the American officers and
men. In fact, the city, except for the presence
of the United States troops, was in all other respects
governed and conducted as before its occupation.

General Scott left Jalapa on May 23d for Puebla.
He arrived there on the 28th, and was met and escorted
into the city by a number of officers. Along
the streets of the city through which he passed the
balconies were filled with Mexican ladies and the avenues
crowded with men. The populace cheered him heartily
and escorted him to the palace. The soldiers,
volunteers and regulars, gave him the heartiest welcome,
showing that he had the respect and confidence of the
army, and the demonstrations of the Mexicans evidenced
that they regarded him as a humane and Christian conqueror.

In this connection it is well to produce the address
of General Scott to the Mexican people after the battle
of Cerro Gordo: